All events included with admission to Discovery Center unless otherwise noted. General admission: $8 adults; $8 children ages 2-17; free to Discovery Center Members and children age 1 and younger.
Traveling Exhibition May 25 – September 2, 2013
Explore the history and the hunting of treasure in our newest immersive exhibition. Delve into the technology employed by treasure hunters and focus on the people and personalities lured by the promise of prosperity. Be enticed by shipwreck and treasure site artifacts, and learn to use the tools you’d need to find a fortune. Treasure! is a joint adventure with the Burpee Museum of Natural History, and can be uncovered in the Woodward Exhibit Hall.
Visit our Treasure page for more information.
CO-Presenting Sponsors: Savant and Northwest Bank. Also sponsored by the Community Founcation of Northern Illinois, the Dean A. Olson Foundation, and J. L. Clark.
Admission: $2 for Members; $4 for Public + general Museum admission of $8/person.
Friday, June 7, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PNC will be bringing a Mobile Learning Adventure for kids to the Discovery Center Museum parking lot on Friday, June 7 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Mobile Learning Adventure (MLA) is a traveling exhibit that provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn about the importance of early childhood education while they engage in fun activities with their children. It includes interactive kiosks, free photo ops, craft area and free giveaways. The event is free. The PNC Mobile Learning Adventure does not include admission to the Museum.
Saturday, June 8, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Discovery Center invites children with special needs and their immediate families to experience our multisensory exhibits and engaging activities before the doors open to the general public. Join us and take advantage of this special opportunity with FREE ADMISSION. A healthy snack will be served at 10:00 a.m. and families are welcome to stay and play after the museum opens to the public. Staff from the Rockford Park District Therapeutic Recreation Department will be on hand with help and information. Advance registration is required to receive free admission. Contact Lynn at 815-963-6769 or email Lynnmc@discoverycentermuseum.org.
Sponsored by the Blazer Foundation of Rockford.
June 14; 11:00 am -3:30 pm
Find mysterious qualities in foods! Create instant color changes and paint with plants. Don your chef’s hat and design a dip, then taste-test a snack you assemble yourself.
June 17; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Lori Walsh for this special art project.
June 21; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Ready, aim, launch! Create catapults, assemble slingshots, adjust trajectories, and get ready to
knockthings down as we get into 
the science behind
this game! Who knewphysics could be so fun?!
Sponsored by Rock Valley Credit Union, NickleWorld and Henning Inc.
June 24; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Kristen Gosselin for this special art project.
June 28; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Discover the ins and outs of searching for treasure. Use a real metal detector, set your sights on a rainbow, pan for “gold”, program a robot probe, and more! Tour the “Treasure”
exhibition today for an additional $4! Sponsored by Powmet and Greenlee.
July 1; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Kim Zierke for this special art project.
July 4; 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
July 5; 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Experiment with explosions, launch mini rockets, construct a potato popper, and more! Invent your own light-up wand, and create patriotic art while slurping on a snow cone. Science and art star in this red white and blue day of family fun. On Thursday, leave your car parked here and take the short walk downtown to the parade and fireworks. Sponsored by Superior Joining Technology.
July 8; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Tasha Neisewander for this special art project.
July 12; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Unearth the secrets of seeds in this earthy event! Discover hidden colors, dissect a flower, tally petals, play with pill bugs and warm up to worms. Dress for mess during this day of playing in the dirt. Explore Discovery Center’s newest outdoor space, “Secret Garden.” in the outdoor science park. Overalls optional.
July 15; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Tricia Magers for this special art project.
July 19; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Watch mesmerizing juggler Jason Kollum and take a lesson from this master performer in a workshop designed with kids in mind. Keep your balance between performances with hands-on Discovery Center fun. Preregistration for shows and workshops recommended. 40-minute shows begin at: 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 30-minute workshops are geared for ages 3 and up; all are welcome; workshop space is limited. Workshop times: 12:40 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.; and 3:30 p.m. Call 815-963-6769 to register beginning June 3. Sponsored by WilliamsMcCarthy LLC.
July 22; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Bruce Quast for this special art project.
July 26; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Are you smarter than a pirate? “See” the difference an eye patch makes; design a boat to float your swag; make a compass to point the way, navigate by the stars, and craft a sailboat to catch the wind. We’ll even sample hardtack. Landlubbers welcome. Sponsored by Williams-Manny and Greenlee.
$3 Members; $10 General Public
Explore the science, mystery, and lure of our summer exhibition,Treasure!, without the kids during this evening adventure. Discover the history, mystery and science of rum, and engage your brain with the skills needed by buccaneers who plied the seas for plunder. Pirate garb and guttural speech encouraged. Peg legs and parrots optional. Arghh!
July 29; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Pilar Dressel for this special art project.
August 2; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Make your own kite to master the wind, harness air with a hovercraft, and pit your strength against air pressure. Feats like magic come easy to even novice airbenders! Masters will learn to manipulate this element to topple distant objects and send a foggy vortex flying.
August 5; 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Join guest artist Michele Larson for this special art project.
August 9; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Float a fish, sink a sub, and make your own toy. Investigate buoyancy and help us dunk computer monitors, bowling balls, and other oddball objects in our giant tank as we test for “float” or “sink” with Wink Fløtersynk. Dress to get wet. Sponsored by Viking Chemical.
August 16; 11:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Bring some fruit to fuel our giant catapult. Little squirts use big drips to splash together some art. Drench your favorite family member, experiment with water balloon ballistics, and play with wet and messy stuff. Dress to get wet.
Saturday, November 2, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Discovery Center invites children with special needs and their immediate families to experience our multisensory exhibits and engaging activities before the doors open to the general public. Join us and take advantage of this special opportunity with FREE ADMISSION. A healthy snack will be served at 10:00 a.m. and families are welcome to stay and play after the museum opens to the public. Staff from the Rockford Park District Therapeutic Recreation Department will be on hand with help and information. Advance registration is required to receive free admission. Contact Lynn at 815-963-6769 or email Lynnmc@discoverycentermuseum.org.
Sponsored by the Blazer Foundation of Rockford.
Friday October 25, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Enjoy some adult beverages as we explore the science of the very small. Click here for more details.